Man attacked sons, stabbed wife to death and then ended his life

The boys, 9 and 12, were trying to protect their mom when one was stabbed and the other’s wrist was slit

- YOSHINI PERUMAL

A CHATSWORTH man who stabbed his stepson twice, then slashed the wrists of his 9-year-old son before killing his wife, was found hanged from a tree the next day.

Zaheera Rehman (Sholene), 40, was stabbed six times in her chest during an altercation with her estranged husband, Muhammed Rehman, 35, at their home in Montford at around 7.30pm on Sunday,

Rehman allegedly also stabbed Zaheera’s 12-year-old son — from a previous marriage — twice and then slashed the wrists of their 9-year-old son.

Zaheera died on the operating table in hospital in the early hours of Monday. Both children are still in hospital.

Rehman, who had been on the run since the stabbing incident, was found hanged from a tree at a park in Arena Park on Monday morning.

His brother, Althaaf Rehman, said their family were baffled by the murder-suicide.

He said he was thankful that his nephews, who were in his brother's care when the couple separated, did not suffer major injuries.

“I do not think it was my brother’s intention to harm the children. It appears that they had tried to defend their mother when they were injured.

“My brother and I had built our houses on my father's property and we all lived in the same yard.

“On Sunday, I was watching TV with my son when Muhammed’s youngest son ran to my gate. He was bleeding from his hands. I thought he had been attacked by an intruder. I never imagined that my brother would have inflicted harm on them,” said Althaaf.

“Before I could ask him any questions, my nephew told me that his older brother was also bleeding. I immediately got my keys, grabbed both the children and put them into my car to take them to the hospital.

“They were in shock and having panic attacks. They struggled to breathe and were crying hysterically. As we approached the hospital, they told me their parents were fighting and that my brother had cut them with a knife.